An ongoing federal investigation into West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchinís administration is further complicating his unexpectedly competitive campaign for Senate.

The trouble began when the governorís office confirmed the administration had received two federal subpoenas just weeks after Manchin, the stateís popular two-term governor, announced his bid in July for the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd.

While the governorís office has kept mum on the details of the subpoenas served on the Department of Administration and the Division of Highways, a special assistant attorney general assigned to the case confirmed to a local news station Wednesday that the investigation is focused on a multimillion- dollar highway project in Manchinís hometown of Fairmont.

Local news reports have cited anonymous sources as saying that Manchinís former chief of staff, state Democratic Party Chairman Larry Puccio, is involved in the probe. Puccio, a real estate agent and appraiser, is also from FairmontÖ